Denmark is a small kingdom located in Northern Europe.
It is made up of the peninsula of Jutland, which extends northward toward Norway and Sweden, as well as the islands of Zealand, Funen (Fyn), Lolland, Falster, and Bornholm, and 401 smaller islands. The country is bordered on the west by the North Sea, and the east by the Baltic Sea. Norway is located across the Skaggerak to the North, and Sweden is located to the north and east across the Kattegat strait and the Oresund Sound.
Denmark has two outlying territories, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, both in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Faroe Islands are located to the north of Scotland.
The total land area of Denmark is 43,098 square kilometers. In comparative terms, Denmark is almost twice as big as Massachusetts.
The capital of Denmark is Copenhagen, on the island of Zealand (Sjaelland).
Denmark is known today for dairy products, Lego toys, and the fairy tales and stories of Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875). The dairy industry is run by a system of local farm cooperatives which has perhaps been more extensively applied than in any other country in the world.
Denmark is also known for the social theories of Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1783-1872), who founded the folk high school movement for adults who wished to complete their education. Today, Denmark has achieved an extensive program of social legislation, and perhaps provides the most extensive social safety net in Europe.
Denmark has a very long history. Hunters and fisherman were living in Denmark as long ago as the Old Stone Age (about 10,000 BC). There are many relics of the Stone, Bronze and Iron Age inhabitants in Denmark's museums. The Danes took part in Viking raids between the 9th and 11th centuries AD, many settling in England, Normandy, and Northern Germany. The Danish royal line began during this time period. Denmark has been a unified state since the 10th century.
The government of Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, since 1849. The head of state is a king or queen and the head of government is a prime minister. The legislature has one chamber (1953), the People's Assembly (Folketinget), and the judicial branch is the Supreme Court, whose members are appointed for life by the head of state.
The language of Denmark is Danish.
The primary religion in Denmark is Christianity. More than 84 percent of the population belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. There are also other Protestant groups, and the Roman Catholic Church. Baha'i, Islam, and Judaism are also represented in the population.
Denmark's currency is the Danish krone. Denmark rejected the Euro in a referendum in 2000, though it is a member of the European Union. Denmark elected to opt out of the European Economic and Monetary Union, which is one of the elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty.
Sailing is a popular activity throughout the country due to the large number of islands and extensive coastline of Denmark.
Web Sites
- CIA: The World Factbook
- U.S. Department of State
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Library of Congress Country Studies
- BBC News Country Profile
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